Former Nassau police commander's trial begins

Retired Nassau County Police Deputy Commissioner William Flanagan last year talks about the accusations against him where he allegedly stopped the arrest of a police benefactor's son. Photo Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa

Retired Nassau County Police Deputy Commissioner William Flanagan last year talks about the accusations against him where he allegedly stopped the arrest of a police benefactor's son. (Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa )

A high-ranking former Nassau police commander abused his authority and betrayed public trust when he ignored the law to help a rich friend, prosecutor Christiana McSloy said Tuesday at the start of the retired lawman's conspiracy trial.

"What the public and the community deserves is officials who are going to do the right thing for the right reason for all the people of Nassau County," McSloy...

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A high-ranking former Nassau police commander abused his authority and betrayed public trust when he ignored the law to help a rich friend, prosecutor Christiana McSloy said Tuesday at the start of the retired lawman's conspiracy trial.

"What the public and the community deserves is officials who are going to do the right thing for the right reason for all the people of Nassau County," McSloy said in her opening argument in William Flanagan's trial on a felony misconduct charge. "They do not expect the police force to conspire to sweep crimes under the rug for their wealthy friends."

Flanagan is one of three police officials charged in the conspiracy. Retired Deputy Chief of Patrol John Hunter and retired Seventh Precinct Squad deputy supervisor Alan Sharpe have had their cases severed from Flanagan's by a judge, though their lawyers were in the courtroom to observe Tuesday. All three men have pleaded not guilty.

According to McSloy, the conspiracy stemmed from a 2009 burglary in which Zachary Parker, then 17, of Merrick, the son of police benefactor Gary Parker, stole about $10,000 worth of electronic equipment from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore.

Police never charged Zachary Parker with the theft, but Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice later presented the case directly to a grand jury and Zachary Parker was indicted. He pleaded guilty in March, and was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison.

Flanagan, who has said he was friends with Gary Parker, is charged with using his position in the department to get the equipment returned to the school so that school officials would not press charges against Zachary Parker. Later, McSloy said Gary Parker gave Flanagan hundreds of dollars worth of restaurant gift cards as a show of thanks. Flanagan admits that he received the gifts, but said they were not in exchange for preferential treatment, and that he never cashed them in.